EC gets instructions from PMO to implement govt agenda: BNP

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has claimed that the Prime Minister’s Office is giving instructions to the Election Commission to implement the government agenda.

“The election commissioners have been playing important roles in holding the upcoming election, but there’s a hearsay that they’re working in favour of the ruling party,” said the BNP leader while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP spokesperson also questioned the neutrality of three Election Commissioners – M Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Shahdat Hossain.

He alleged that Prime Minister’s adviser HT Imam regularly discuss various issues with these three commissioners.
“Various instructions are being sent from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Chief Election Commissioner through messengers, and it has been confirmed from the CEC’s office,” Rizvi claimed.

He alleged that a cell has been set up at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to control the returning officers. “The nominations of BNP candidates and Awami League’s rebel independent ones were scrapped during scrutiny on December 2 as per the suggestion of the cell.”

The BNP leader alleged that there was a strong instruction from the cell about the ruling party’s rebel candidates. “The Election Commission during the appeal hearing is also following the same direction regarding the independent candidates.”

He said they came to know that former election commissioner Mobarak Hossain has been made the legal adviser to the ruling party’s election steering cell.

Besides, the BNP leader said, 12 police officials have been given the charge to help the ruling party rig votes in different regions.

Rizvi said they have also go information that the National Security Intelligence (NSI) officials have been asked to prepare a list of the election observers. “The Intelligence agency has already formed an alliance titled ‘Election Working Forum’ with 20 organisations registered with the Election Commission.”

He said a list of 20,000 local election observers under the alliance has been made and they will be there at polling stations to work in favour of Awami League.